Safety culture and business stability go hand in hand

Boliden's operations entail risks such as handling substantial material flows, high temperatures and, from time to time, substances that are hazardous to health. A safe work environment is a top priority for Boliden and the Group has adopted a zero tolerance vision for accidents at work.

Boliden works to promote a common safety culture built on mutual trust and preventive measures. This approach includes an individual responsibility to follow the applicable safety procedures and good risk awareness. Consistent and committed leadership at all levels, committed employees and strong peer pressure that does not tolerate risky behaviour are important cornerstones, and a continuous ongoing dialogue on the subjects of attitudes and behaviour is vital.

Boliden's safety culture and performance are vital for business stability and prosperity. Accident prevention avoids delays that affect production. A strong safety culture helps to secure current and future talent, and reassures investors. In addition, an accident may not just involve personal injury, but could even jeopardise Boliden's overall right to operate.

Safety performance

A 2013 Metals & Mining Outlook by Deutsche Bank, which rated metals and mining companies according to their fatality ratio between 2006 and 2011 ranked Boliden as one of the best in terms of fatality prevention as it had the lowest fatality rate in the industry over the period. Deutsche Bank opted to use the fatality rate as its key indicator due to major inconsistencies between how companies measure and report their injury frequency rate. Boliden for example, typically has a relatively high frequency rate of injuries and incidents.

Safety culture survey

Boliden conducted a safety culture survey in 2015, which was answered by around 3,500 employees. One of the key conclusions was that production is sometimes prioritised over safety, which highlights the need to better involve both employees and contractors in safety work. Each unit is developing common improvement actions that are followed up during Group Safety Walks and audits.

Ongoing safety culture work

Boliden's Safety Strategy pursues continual safety performance improvements and establishes a systematic safety road map structure to move all units to best in class. Biannual safety network meetings are held that provide a forum for the exchange of information and best practice between Boliden's production units. Focus areas for 2015 are leadership training, risk management, contractor safety, alternative work/light duty and pro-active health initiatives.

Manager development programme

A management development programme was held in 2015 to improve awareness of how manager leadership impacts on Boliden's Safety culture. The Programme also intended to increase knowledge among managers of how their attitudes and behaviour have a direct impact on health and safety in the workplace. The program involved a series of lectures and work sessions built on the train-the trainer concept.